Funnel vs sankey Two ways to show flow.
Short answer
Use a funnel when the same people drop out step by step and only the count matters. Use a sankey when volume splits, merges or comes from several sources, and you need to see where each part goes.
Updated Nov 2, 2026
032 · Funnel One rate per step: 21% of the 10,000 sessions end in a purchase.
031 · Sankey Where each source ends: search brings 1,100 of the 2,100 purchases.
Same 10,000 sessions
The funnel gives the rate; the sankey shows where it comes from. Social and direct lose the most at the door: 31% of their sessions bounce, against 17% from search.
If you ask How many make it to the end?
Use a Funnel
Which step loses the most people?
Use a Funnel
Where does each source end up?
Use a Sankey
Which channel brings the buyers?
Use a Sankey
Common mistakes Funnel Steps people can skip. The funnel then shows a drop that never happened.
Stages out of order. The narrowing reads as loss even where there is none.
Sankey One source, one target. A sankey with a single path is a thick bar: use a funnel.
Many thin links. Group small sources into Other so the main flows stay readable.
Other ways to show flow Cash bridge, Q3 Cash from the opening balance of $1.82M to the closing balance of $1.91M: sales in, refunds, staff, cloud and tax out. 4M 3M 2M 1M 0 OPEN SALES −0.71M STAFF −0.12M TAX CLOSE BALANCE INFLOW OUTFLOW Cash bridge, Q3 Cash from the opening balance of $1.82M to the closing balance of $1.91M: sales in, refunds, staff, cloud and tax out. 4M 3M 2M 1M 0 1.82M Open +1.24M Sales −0.09M Refund −0.71M Staff −0.23M Cloud −0.12M Tax 1.91M Close Balance Inflow Outflow Cash bridge, Q3 Step Change Balance Open $1.82M Sales +$1.24M $3.06M Refund −$0.09M $2.97M Staff −$0.71M $2.26M Cloud −$0.23M $2.03M Tax −$0.12M $1.91M Close $1.91M
Cash bridge, Q3 Cash from the opening balance of $1.82M to the closing balance of $1.91M: sales in, refunds, staff, cloud and tax out. 4M 3M 2M 1M 0 OPEN REFUND CLOUD CLOSE BALANCE INFLOW OUTFLOW Cash bridge, Q3 Cash from the opening balance of $1.82M to the closing balance of $1.91M: sales in, refunds, staff, cloud and tax out. 4M 3M 2M 1M 0 1.82M Open +1.24M −0.09M Refund −0.71M −0.23M Cloud −0.12M Tax 1.91M Close Balance Inflow Outflow Cash bridge, Q3 Step Change Balance Open $1.82M Sales +$1.24M $3.06M Refund −$0.09M $2.97M Staff −$0.71M $2.26M Cloud −$0.23M $2.03M Tax −$0.12M $1.91M Close $1.91M
Bridge flows between chains $1240M bridged between 5 chains this week; Base has the largest net inflow (+$319M), Polygon the largest net outflow (−$146M). Ethereum −$72M Arbitrum +$18M Base +$319M Solana −$119M Polygon −$146M Bridge flows between chains $1240M bridged between 5 chains this week; Base has the largest net inflow (+$319M), Polygon the largest net outflow (−$146M). Ethereum −$72M Arbitrum +$18M Base +$319M Solana −$119M Polygon −$146M Bridge flows between chains From To Volume Ethereum Arbitrum $210M Ethereum Base $190M Arbitrum Ethereum $160M Base Ethereum $120M Ethereum Solana $95M Solana Ethereum $70M Arbitrum Base $105M Polygon Ethereum $73M Solana Base $144M Polygon Arbitrum $73M
Bridge flows between chains $1240M bridged between 5 chains this week; Base has the largest net inflow (+$319M), Polygon the largest net outflow (−$146M). Ethereum −$72M Arbitrum +$18M Base +$319M Solana −$119M Polygon −$146M Bridge flows between chains $1240M bridged between 5 chains this week; Base has the largest net inflow (+$319M), Polygon the largest net outflow (−$146M). Ethereum −$72M Arbitrum +$18M Base +$319M Solana −$119M Polygon −$146M Bridge flows between chains From To Volume Ethereum Arbitrum $210M Ethereum Base $190M Arbitrum Ethereum $160M Base Ethereum $120M Ethereum Solana $95M Solana Ethereum $70M Arbitrum Base $105M Polygon Ethereum $73M Solana Base $144M Polygon Arbitrum $73M
Customer bowtie September cohort: visits 48K, trials 6.2K, sql 1.9K, won 420, onboard $61K, adopt $88K, expand $124K. VISITS 48K TRIALS 6.2K SQL 1.9K WON 420 ONBOARD $61K ADOPT $88K EXPAND $124K ACQUIRE WIN GROW Customer bowtie September cohort: visits 48K, trials 6.2K, sql 1.9K, won 420, onboard $61K, adopt $88K, expand $124K. Visits 48k Trials 6.2k SQL 1.9k Won 420 Onboard $61k Adopt $88k Expand $124k Acquire Win Grow Customer bowtie Stage Side Value VISITS Acquire 48K TRIALS Acquire 6.2K SQL Acquire 1.9K WON Win 420 ONBOARD Grow $61K ADOPT Grow $88K EXPAND Grow $124K
Customer bowtie September cohort: visits 48K, trials 6.2K, sql 1.9K, won 420, onboard $61K, adopt $88K, expand $124K. VISITS 48K TRIALS 6.2K SQL 1.9K WON 420 ONBOARD $61K ADOPT $88K EXPAND $124K ACQUIRE WIN GROW Customer bowtie September cohort: visits 48K, trials 6.2K, sql 1.9K, won 420, onboard $61K, adopt $88K, expand $124K. Visits 48k Trials 6.2k SQL 1.9k Won 420 Onboard $61k Adopt $88k Expand $124k Acquire Win Grow Customer bowtie Stage Side Value VISITS Acquire 48K TRIALS Acquire 6.2K SQL Acquire 1.9K WON Win 420 ONBOARD Grow $61K ADOPT Grow $88K EXPAND Grow $124K
Questions Can a funnel show where people go when they drop out? No. It shows how many are left after each step. To see where the rest go, use a sankey, or put one next to the funnel.
Can a sankey show conversion rates? Not on its own: it shows volumes. Write the rate on the target, or pair it with a funnel for the rate per step.
Do both come in every size? Yes. Funnel and Sankey come in XS, S, M and L, each laid out again for its size, in light and dark.
Do they install the same way? Yes, one command each: npx shadcn add @chartory/funnel and npx shadcn add @chartory/sankey.